SRA Senior Researcher:

Laura Berry
Qualifications: BA (Hons) History with Spanish BA, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey

Laura began working with SRA in 2005 as a researcher on the Channel 4 series Not Forgotten, and went on to provide archive research for History Mysteries (BBC2), Family Ties (BBC4), So You Think You're Royal? (Sky One) and numerous national newspaper and magazine articles. In 2006 she undertook the Researcher's Survival Course with Pact.training and became the principal archive and media researcher for The History Channel's 'Hidden House History' series. Laura co-ordinated the genealogical team for the fourth series of Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC1), and appeared on-screen with actor John Hurt. Other on-screen appearances as an archive expert include History Mysteries (BBC2), BBC South East Today (BBC1) and a live interview on BBC Breakfast to promote the John Hurt programme. Laura also worked on the first Who Do You Think You Are? episode in Ireland (RTE1) and presented her findings on-screen to news journalist Charlie Bird. Laura has given talks at Olympia for the Who Do You Think You Are? Live Show 2007 and the Listed Property Owners' Show 2008 about tracing house history. At a Panorama of History Weekend organised by Barcelo-Paramount Hotels, she gave a talk about the value of family history and her experiences working on Who Do You Think You Are? Laura also enjoys writing and was a contributory author to the Reader's Digest 'How To Trace Your Family History on the Internet' publication, and has provided research and writing support to Dr. Nick Barratt for the 'Who Do You Think You Are? Encyclopaedia', 'Greater London: The Story of a Metropolis' and 'Lost Voices From the Titanic' due for publication soon.

Laura specialises in the Victorian and Edwardian periods but her areas of interest encompass Modern Social History, House History, Genealogy, Military and Naval History.

To see Laura in action on Who Do You Think You Are, please click here (UK only)

Researchers:

SRA uses a team of freelance researchers with expertise in a wide range of historical subjects, periods and themes throughout the UK, Ireland and other parts of the world. Where appropriate, SRA uses specialists from other fields (such as architectural historians or archaeologists) to provide services tailored to meet the needs of each project.

In Scotland we use the services of Brian Thomson.

Our research team in the Republic of Ireland is led by Dr Julia Hofmann.